Spike Lee's "Summer of Sam" enthralled me from beginning to end while Joe Wright's "Atonement" bored me at times and let me down big at the end. On Rotten Tomatoes "Summer of Sam" has only 51% positive reviews while "Atonement" has 83%.

Critics don't think like me and they don't think like you, but we are made to think their opinions still somehow should matter to us. They have unique sets of expectations, overly sensitive palates, prejudice biases and contradictions. They aren't like your average movie-goer and, of course, unlike any other person on the earth.

Yet still people listen to film critics because there are many things film critics offer that assist movie fans in their film going.

A Trusted Guide (Evaluation)

Filmmakers and studios are notorious for touting all the positives of their film while ignoring any negatives. They trim quotes to emphasize the pleasant and block out any impressions of bad. They are obviously going to do whatever they can to get you to give them money, they have no incentive to do otherwise. Since studios just want to manipulate people to get them to be paying customers, an impartial authority is needed to fill the void. Film critics may be wrong-headed, behind the times, or even just plain wrong, but they are never in a financial position that encourages them to fabricate a positive review. Whatever you can say about critics, they cannot sell out.

More Info On Storyworld (Context)

Some stories are set in worlds that were inspired by novels or movies of an era gone by. These works may be unavailable or not worth the time to delve into but could still add some needed perspective to the current incarnation. Film critics are often film scholars and not just people with strong opinions. In reviews they don't only advise you to see or not see a film, that could be done in a single word. Reviews are often filled with other information that can help people enjoy a film. For example, film critics can assist moviegoers in putting the film into context and expanding upon things brought up in the movie.

More Info On Characters (Elaboration)

In most movies we don't get in-depth knowledge about any particular character, you can only learn so much in two hours or so. That's not to say there isn't more to these characters, but that the restrictions of the form don't allow much digression. Much can be learned about a character just based on people's imaginations or opinions. The truth is we don't know everything about anybody. One guess is as good as any when nothing is known. Though it may later turn out to be incorrect, this information makes the experience of getting to know somebody more pleasurable and less daunting. Many film critics were once aspiring writers and others just have a knack for elucidating characters. Their added asides and personal takes on characters can enrich the movie-going experience.

Interaction (Letters, Conversation)

Film makers work in a bubble. They communicate out to people, but it's very difficult for anyone to talk back. Film critics on the other hand are infinitely more accessible. Many are a part of a mainstream news organization that accepts phone calls and letters to the editor. People don't want to just read about movies they also want to talk about them. More to the point they want to talk to the makers of the film if they had their way. This interaction is a strong motivator for why people create blogs about movies or characters. It's something that people are used to doing with people they are getting to know. Movies are about people and when we get to know people usually we get to talk to them.

These are valuable services that film fans have grown accustomed to and will likely be around in some form for a long time. The one important note is that they need not all be performed by critics. Film critics will always at their core be an impartial observer, but all the other aspects of their reviews that people are interested in can be performed by the movie makers. Instead of relying on critics for your movie's success, take steps to take some of the responsibility critics have been bearing on their shoulders for years.